Monday, October 3, 2011

More Biking/More Camping/More Smores: Shawnee State Park

This summer has been full of quick overnight camping trips. These trips have been refreshing and - as much as I love living in a city and the bustle that comes with it - it never fails to breathe a little new life into me. (The smores don't hurt either.)

Corey, Carrie, Allie and I loaded up the back of Corey's truck with our bikes and camp gear and made the two-hour ride out to Shawnee State Park. Corey grew up nearby in Bedford and had spent time in his youth biking and wandering around the park.

At night, after I nearly killed us all by lining the fire pit with shale (here's a pro tip: shale EXPLODES when it gets hot, so don't put it in a fire), Carrie did a tarot card reading for me (on top of a Terrible Towel - awesome) that was eerily accurate.

Another outstanding fire built by Carrie and me. One match. (Though we did have to use a second match in the morning to get it going again.)

Stick bug that hung out with us for a little bit at the picnic table.

Carrie's morning hash. Does everything taste good over an open flame?*

We made it back in time for the first Steelers game of the season. We all know how that turned out. Regardless, the first regular season Steelers game means it's fall, which is something we've all been waiting (somewhat) patiently for.

Yeah! There is something about biking on a camping trip that immediately makes me feel like I'm 8 years old. Even though I never went camping when I was a kid. (My parents were not the "roughing it" sort.) But still!

Everything Better Pittsburgh

I'm Allison. I grew up in Pittsburgh, went to college here, and then shipped off to Boston for five years where I learned just how awesome Pittsburgh is. I moved back in July 2010 and live in Bloomfield with two very odd black cats. I'm surrounded by friends who inspire me and a city that makes my heart race, skip beats, and swell. Toward the end of my time there, my friends in Boston started to call me "Everything Better Pittsburgh." I can't help it. It's a simple, undeniable truth.